From Strasbourg to Luxembourg

After our stay in Annecy, we took the train to Strasbourg. We had heard much about this beautiful city, the iconic cathedral and were eager to visit.

Our primary reason for visiting was to see the famous cathedral – Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Strasbourg. Construction began in 1015 and wasn’t completed until 1439; talk about a labor of love!

Erwin Von Steinbach was the chief architect between 1277 and 1318. When he died, his son, Johannes von Steinbach took over, and later, yet another family member, son of Johannes, Gerlach von Steinbach was next in line to manage the project. Unfortunately, there was not another family member to take over after Gerlach passed away and future architects did not have the same vision for the cathedral as the family trio, resulting in just one spire rather than two. Regardless, the cathedral is a lofty, magnificent structure to behold.

For four hundred years, the famous cathedral was the tallest building in the world. It was surpassed by St. Nikolai’s Church in Hamburg, Germany in 1874. Click here if you’re interested in learning more about the history of the cathedral.

Strasbourg is a pretty town to wander in, and as usual, I enjoyed snapping photos.

After a few days in Strasbourg, off we went to Luxembourg. It was late July when we visited, and it seemed to be an ideal time to enjoy this welcoming country. There were other visitors, but nothing like the throngs of tourists we encountered in Giverny and Annecy, and the weather was perfect. Luxembourg has many claims to fame including:

1. It is one of the safest countries in Europe.

2. The Schengen Agreements were signed here.

3. Xavier Bettel, one of the country’s former prime ministers was the first EU leader in a same-sex marriage.

4. It is one of the smallest, and also one of the richest countries in the world.

5. It has three official languages, French, German and Luxembourgish. We spoke French while there, but noticed that most people also speak English.

Our time there was limited to Luxembourg City which has much to offer. One of the most interesting sites for us, were the ruins not far from our hotel.

In 963, a Count by the name of Siegfried ordered fortifications to be built on a hill, to prevent invasions from neighboring armies. The structure endured numerous invasions over the centuries, but still stands today.

You’ll enjoy expansive views of the River Alzette, and Neumünster Abbey from the ramparts.

Parc Municipal d’Edouard André is another place we visited. Just across the street from our hotel, this lush, enchanting park is a splendid place to wander.

Edouard André was a French horticulturalist and landscape architect who designed multiple city parks throughout Europe.

Being one of the richest countries in Europe, you’ll find lots of hoity-toity shops and famous brand stores.

We found both cities to be welcoming, friendly and not nearly as packed with tourists as some of the other locations we visited in June and July. Although we had a rental car for part of our trip, both cities are easy to get to by train.

If you’re curious about where we are at the moment, check out theTravelsketcher’s posts which reflect our current travels.

As always, I would love to hear from you, so please leave a comment if you’re so inclined.

Wishing you grand adventures,

Tricia